E-Book Overview
"Stephen Davis has crafted an outstanding book. Few people could have written this study, and the scholarly community is indebted to Davis for his unique areas of expertise. ...This book is a model for scholarship." --Church History
Coptic Christology in Practice:
Dr. Davis makes a compelling case articulated for a new venue in the study of Alexandrine Soteriology and Coptic Christology, from Clement to Matthew the poor, and Boulus al-Boushi. Stephen Davis demonstrates, simply by the genuinely beautiful icon posted on the cover of his pristine book, how the fellowship with Jesus, was practiced by St. Menas, a martyr, who enjoyed Jesus friendship. Such is a living visual example of Coptic christology, showing how Christian identity was shaped in Egypt by the tradition of charity in practice. Coptic christology, preserved in liturgy, hymns and art endured waves of Imperial oppression since Athanasius and to Sawirus Ibn al-Muqaffa's contemporary Khaliphs. Davis, writing this book, paves the road for scholars and inspires lay readers to explore the fascinating venues of Coptic church theology, liturgy, and cultural traditions. Dr. David Brakke, of Indiana University wrote a detailed critical review for the book in the Journal of Early Christian Studies.
Liturgy as Soteriology:
As a young Coptic Psaltos or Psalm chanter, I started to develop an interest in liturgy, which led me into Soteriology, Christology of the Pan-Soter, Jesus Christ. Mono-genes is a unique description of the only begotten Son in Coptic liturgy, and reflects the Coptic mystical understanding of the amazing office and person of the savior, as developed by Athanasius, perfected by Cyril of Alexandria, and expounded by Severus of Antioch. Athanasius debated that none could restores man's immortality, but He Who is life's source, by recovering man's true knowledge of God (De Incarnatione Verbi Dei). Man becomes partaker of the divine nature, by the grace of the Logos who reverses the principle of death by His precious gift of eternal life.
Dr. Stephen Davis:
A versed theologian who has written on the Coptic Church history, its Fathers, and theology. When I first encountered the Yale scholar, I was fascinated by his articulate essay on Boulus al-Boushi, a great Coptic theologian (1170-1250), analyzing the Bishop's Eucharistic reading of John 3:51-57. Later I was impressed by his command of Coptic and Arabic.
The Fatherhood of God from Origen to Athanasius (Oxford Theological Monographs)
Christ in Christian Tradition, Vol. 2: From the Council of Chalcedon (451) to Gregory the Great (590-604) [Part 4: The Church of Alexandria With Nubia and Ethiopia]
E-Book Content
OX F O R D E A R LY C H R I S T I A N S T U D I E S General Editors
Gillian Clark Andrew Louth
THE OXFORD EARLYCHRISTIAN STUDIES series includes scholarly volumes on the thought and history of the early Christian centuries. Covering a wide range of Greek, Latin, and Oriental sources, the books are of interest to theologians, ancient historians, and specialists in the classical and Jewish worlds. Titles in the series include: The Byzantine Christ Person, Nature, and Will in the Christology of St Maximus the Confessor Demetrios Bathrellos (2004) The Doctrine of DeiWcation in the Greek Patristic Tradition Norman Russell (2004) The Body in St Maximus the Confessor Holy Flesh, Wholly DeiWed Adam G. Cooper (2005) The Asketikon of St Basil the Great Anna M. Silvas (2005) Marius Victorinus’ Commentary on Galatians Stephen Andrew Cooper (2005) Asceticism and Christological Controversy in Fifth-Century Palestine The Career of Peter the Iberian Cornelia B. Horn (2006) Marcellus of Ancyra and the Lost Years of the Arian Controversy 325–345 Sara Parvis (2006) The Irrational Augustine Catherine Conybeare (2006) Clement of Alexandria and the Beginnings of Christian Apophatici